Argentina Dramatically Beats England 2-1 to Reach World Cup Final

A Thrilling Comeback

Argentina secured a place in the 2026 World Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semifinal on Wednesday, July 16. The match, played in North America, saw Argentina equalize in the 86th minute and grab the winner in stoppage time.

The first half was cautious, with Argentina holding more possession but neither side creating clear chances. England's first shot on goal came from John Stones, who headed wide. Late in the half, yellow cards were shown to Elliot Anderson and Lisandro Martinez.

Early in the second half, Argentina pushed forward but England struck first in the 55th minute. Anthony Gordon cut inside the box and fired past Emiliano Martinez after a pass from Morgan Rogers. Argentina then took control, and Jordan Pickford made several saves to keep England ahead.

Late Goals Seal the Win

In the 86th minute, Lionel Messi set up Enzo Fernandez, who scored from distance to level the match. Then, in stoppage time, Messi's cross found Lautaro Martinez, who headed home to make it 2-1. Argentina then played conservatively, and England failed to find an equalizer.

Road to the Final

Argentina won all three group matches, then eliminated Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland in the knockout stages. England topped their group with wins over Croatia and Panama and a draw with Ghana, then beat DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway.

Argentina will face Spain in the final on Sunday, after Spain defeated France 2-0 in the other semifinal. England will play France for third place on Saturday.

The 2026 tournament is the first with 48 teams, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Argentina is the defending champion, having beaten France on penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar.